Tim Delaney photo
The Union Pacific trestle over northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 77 was damaged by a commercial vehicle hauling an excavator Monday evening. The traffic lanes have been closed until the trestle is deemed safe.

REFUGIO – A Union Pacific railroad trestle, or overpass, about two miles north of Refugio on U.S. Highway 77 was struck by a commercial vehicle hauling an excavator Monday evening, according to Senior Cpl. Charlie Ramirez of the Department of Public Safety.

Union Pacific Director of Engineering Anthony Davila declared the railroad bridge over the northbound lanes unsafe and closed those lanes of U.S. Highway 77, according to Ramirez.

The northbound lanes will be closed 24 hours or more, depending on what is found by Union Pacific work crews, Ramirez said.

Southbound lanes on U.S. Highway 77 remain open.

According to Rickey Daily , Texas Department of Transportation spokesman, repairs on the trestle were progressing smoothly as of Tuesday morning, and officials anticipated that the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 77 could reopen as soon as 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Assisting in traffic control was TxDOT.

Initially at the scene, after the bridge was hit around 7:30 p.m., in addition to the DPS, were Refugio law enforcement and the Refugio Volunteer Fire Department.

Northbound traffic was being diverted to U.S. Highway 183. If commuters needed to be on U.S. Highway 77, they can turn east on Farm-to-Market Road 239 to return to the main highway.